New Business: Wireless Zone owner makes call to grow in Dover

The newest Wireless Zone Verizon retail store in Dover, located on 34 Salt Creek Road (in the Shoppes at Fieldstone shopping center), is expected to open on March 11. (Delaware State News/Ian Gronau)

DOVER — Delaware native and Smyrna resident, Tajesh Patel, is at it again. Mr. Patel, who opened a new Wireless Zone Verizon retail store in Dover last October is expecting to open his second on March 11. Construction of the new store, located on 34 Salt Creek Road (in the Shoppes at Fieldstone shopping center) in Dover, will soon be complete. Mr. Patel says less than $200,000 was spend on the “inside build-out” of the store.

The reception of his first location in Dover convinced him that the city was ready for another.

“There is only one main store in that area,” he said. “Typically, a city like Dover would have three to four locations. When we opened in October, we saw extensive wait times, therefore opening another store seemed like a smart business option.”

In addition to his first Dover store, Mr. Patel also owns locations in Milford, Harrington and Hockessin. He doesn’t plan to stop opening locations either.

“We have plans to open more stores in southern Delaware,” he said. “We are opening a store in Ocean View in October and focusing on hiring staff within the local area.”

Mr. Patel said each location will put four or five residents to work — one as a manger. Based on 614 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor.com, the national average salary for a Verizon retail store manager was $52,000.

Wireless Zone’s Director of Development, Keith Dziki, agrees with Mr. Patel that the state can handle several more locations.

“Wireless Zone expects to add some additional locations in Delaware this year, but we will be very selective when it comes to the growth areas,” he said. “There are still many desirable locations, but we want to make sure that we open our doors in the right market, with the right owner, in the right location.”

Mr. Dziki says there are currently five Wireless Zone stores in the state, and three additional locations are expected to open in four to six months.

Part of the reason for the rapid expansion, Mr. Dziki says, is coverage the brand offers residents.

“Delaware is a wonderful market for Verizon cellular services,” he said. “Cellular coverage within the state covers all 59 ZIP codes, with nearly 100 percent cellular coverage from state line to state line. Taking all of that into consideration, the state presents itself as a great opportunity for new locations to service customers.”

Now open

•Bright Side Roofing and Siding — hosted a re-opening ribbon cutting of Feb. 22 at their new showroom in Tudor Industrial Park on 615 Otis Drive in Dover. (302) 674-4642

•Eats & Sweets — the breakfast and lunch restaurant opened a new location on 1 Main Street in Smyrna in mid February. (302) 508-5932